Thursday, October 19, 2006
10 RULES FOR THE VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL
10 RULES FOR THE VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL
- Cleanliness of bodies during the festival
- Clean kitchen utensils and to use them seperately from other who do not join the festival
- Wear white during the festival
- Behave physically and mentally
- No meat eating
- No sex
- No alcoholic drinks
- People at mourning period should not attend the festival
- Pragnant ladies should not watch any ritual
- Ladies with period should not attend the ritual
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Phuket Vegetarian Festival
Date 22 Oct 2006 - 30 Oct 2006
Place At the shrines in Phuket Province.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It is believed that the vegetarian festival and its accompanying sacred rituals bestow good fortune upon those who religiously observe this rite. During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Sacred rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines and temples and aesthetic displays such as walking barefooted over hot coals and ascending ladders with bladed rungs are performed by entranced devotees known as "Ma Song". Place all the shrine in Phuket. Activities
Phuket's Vegetarian festival (or jia chai in local Hokkien Chinese dialect) began in 1825, when the govenor of Thalang, Praya Jerm, moved the island's principal town from Ta Reua in Thalang District to Get-Hoe in Kathu District, where were tin mines and Chinese miners. Kathu was then still covered by jungle and fever was rife. It happened that a traveling opera company (called ngiu in Thai or pua-hee in Hokkien dialect) came from China to perform for the minersWhen the whole company grew sick from an unnamed malady, they kept to a vegetarian diet to honor two of the emperor gods, Kiew Ong Tai Teh and Yok Ong Sone Teh. The sickness afflicting the opera troupe then disappeared. This greatly interested the people of Kathu, who asked how it was done. The answer came that ritual vegetarianism with its attendant ceremonies had been the cause, with the result that people embraced the faith enthusiastically. Thus the festival began:starting the first evening of the ninth lunar month, it continued until the ninth evening; the aim was to bring good luck to individuals as well as to the community.
It later happened that one familiar with the festival volunteered to return to Kansai, in China, where he invited the sacred Hiao Ho-le or Hiao lan (incense smoke) and Lian Tui (name plaques), which have the status of gods, to come stay in Kathu. He also brought holy writings used in the ceremonies, returning to Phuket on the seventh night of the ninth month. The people, upon hearing of his arrival, went in procession to Bang Niao Pier to bring him and his sacred cargo back. This was the origin of the processions that figure so greatly in the festival.
The afternoon before the festival begins, a great pole at each temple is raised, called the Go Teng pole, with which the gods are invited to descend. At midnight the pole is hung with nine lanterns, signalizing the opening of the fest. Two important gods are also invited down at midnight to preside over ceremonies; these are Yok Ong Hong Tae and Kiew Ong Tai Tae.
Aside from this, there are other ceremonies throughout the fest, notably: invocation of the gods Lam Tao, who keeps track of the living, and Pak Tao, who keeps track of the dead; processions of the gods' images; and feats of the Ma Song-like bathing in hot oil, bladed ladder climbing and fire-walking. The festival ends with merit making ceremonies at each temple (sadoh kroh) and the send-off of the gods on the last night (when fireworks are at their most impressive).
Ma Song, or entranced horses, are devotees whom the gods enter during the fest. They manifest supernatural powers and perform self-tortures in order to shift evil from individuals onto themselves, and to bring the community good luck. Ma Song fall into two categories: those who, having had an intimation of impending doom, want to extend their lives; and people specially chosen by the gods for their moral qualities.
Throughout the festival fireworks and drums are sounded, especially during ceremonies. It is held that the louder they are the better, because the noise drives away evil spirits.
Participants in the fest keep to a strict vegetarian diet for a varying number of days, usually no less than three. This they do to make themselves strong in mind and body; they refrain from all vice, eating animal flesh, and killing animals. The festival thus promotes good hygiene, brightness and inner peace.
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Monday, October 16, 2006
Tickets/Admission Fees for Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006
Tickets for Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 – International Horticultural Exposition for His Majesty the King are now on sale nationwide.
Please note that as the official opening ceremony will be held on 1 November 2006, access to certain areas of the exposition may be restricted. Security measures will also be intensified. The Organizing Committee sincerely apologizes for the inconvenience this may cause.
Ticket Pricing Table
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Experts call for action to save marine ecology around Phu Quoc
A group of Vietnamese scientists has called for setting up a marine reserve in Phu Quoc island to save the coral and other creatures in the area from overexploitation for commercial purposes.
In a letter the scientists wrote to the Kien Giang province people’s committee – the government – they said a 10,000 hectare area covering 13 small and medium islands in An Thoi Bay should immediately be declared a protected area.
They suggested 8,000 ha of this could be turned into an economic development zone, mostly for ecotourism, under official control.
They warned that the illegal exploitation of coral by divers and fishermen to sell to tourists threatened to destroy the habitat.
The An Thoi archipelago has 124 ha of coral reefs, 250 ha of sea grass, and a variety of marine creatures including the endangered dugong and dolphins and sea turtles.
The petition also warned that if the authorities did not act, Phu Quoc would go the way of other coastal resorts like Nha Trang and Ca Na whose coral reefs have been decimated.
Vietnam is thought to have one of the world's most diverse marine ecologies.
Source: Tuoi Tre – Translated by Luu Thi Hong
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Thursday, October 12, 2006
Macao firms, Vietnam resort ink cooperation deal
Vietnam’s central Furama Danang Resort & Spa signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) with Macao-based businesses from China on tourism and air service cooperation.
The signing ceremony took place Wednesday during the visit of the delegation of officials and businessmen of China’s Macao Special Administrative Region to Danang city.
The resort inked an MOU with Viva Macao Limited to launch a low-cost direct air service between Macao and Danang city in the first quarter next year.
Under the MOU, the Furama Danang will cooperate with Viva Macao for accommodation and aviation services when the company offers air service to the city to tap potential travelers on the route.
Also yesterday, the resort inked another MOU with Macao-based travel firm Gray Line Tours Ltd. over their cooperative tourism activities and promotions in both destinations.
The first event under the MOU, the city tourism sector is set to organize Vietnamese cultural week in Macao next month to introduce culture and tourism potentials of Danang.
The MOUs with two Macao companies were important to bringing a large volume of international travelers to not only Furama Resort but also the central coastal city, said Huynh Tan Vinh, deputy general manager of Furama.
Vinh, who is also chairman of the Danang Tourism Association, expected that more business and leisure travelers would come from Macao to Danang, especially for MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition).
Furama Danang can receive some 80,000 guests and commission a 2,500-sq.m conference hall able to accommodate 1,500 people at a time to meet the demand of MICE tourists.
The resort said room occupancy had exceeded 60 percent and that its operations had come back to normal after Typhoon Xangsane tore through central Vietnam earlier this month.
Danang’s rapid development has attracted the interest of foreign business people and airlines.
Thai Airways International Public Co. Ltd. has mulled over resuming air service between Bangkok and Danang next year.
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Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Phuket Invitation Super Yacht Redzvous 2006
The PHUKET INVITATIONAL is an exclusive annual Superyacht rendezvous held at the Amanpuri Resort, Phuket, Thailand
on the 19th & 20th of December every year.
The Phuket Invitational is a sponsored 'rendezvous' for the many superyachts which arrive to celebrate the festive season. A series of events are held over a two-day period, starting with a deepsea fishing tournament, skipper's briefing and cocktail party. The second day holds the 'main event', the Phuket Invitational yacht rally. A course of two to three miles is set offshore, affording spectators the chance to see beautiful superyachts up close.
More information at www.phuket-invitational.com
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Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Hotels group introduces luxury brand to Vietnam metro
InterContinental Hotels Group has signed an agreement to manage its first luxury-tier InterContinental branded property in Vietnam’s southern metro, Ho Chi Minh City.
Set to open in 2009, the InterContinental Asiana Saigon will be well-positioned to make a landmark contribution to the city’s rapid growth as a tourism hub.
Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s District One, the InterContinental Asiana Saigon will be part of Kumho Asiana Plaza, an extensive mixed-use development.
The hotel will have a prime address along Le Duan Boulevard, within close proximity to embassies, shopping and tourist attractions.
The mega project, which will occupy more than 147,000 square metres, is being developed by Kumho Asiana Plaza Saigon Co. Ltd. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of public listed Kumho Industrial Co Ltd, part of the Kumho Asiana Group of Korea.
Jan Smits, chief operating officer, Southern Asia, InterContinental Hotels Group Asia Pacific, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring the InterContinental Hotels and Resorts brand to Ho Chi Minh City, which is a key market in our overall development strategy.”
“Vietnam has demonstrated remarkable growth in both the leisure and business travel segments. We see further opportunities to enhance our presence as Vietnam continues to promote itself in the international arena as an attractive place to visit.”
With more than 300 rooms and close to 270 residences for long-staying guests, the InterContinental Asiana Saigon will be designed to reflect the unique culture of Vietnam.
The hotel will offer extensive conference and meeting facilities, a range of food and beverage outlets as well as a Club InterContinental lounge. Other facilities include a health club, spa and a swimming pool.
Source: Hospitality Net
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Hilton Hanoi Opera wins Vietnam’s Best Hotel Award
Hilton Hanoi Opera has been awarded Vietnam’s Best Hotel Award at the 2006 World Travel Awards. This is the third time the hotel has won this prestigious award.
Hilton Hanoi Opera was built on the backdrop of the magnificent Hanoi Opera House. The 7-storey landmark is complete with 269 attractively furnished bedrooms to comfortably accommodate both leisure and business travelers.
The hotel also features a 500 guest capacity Ballroom as well as 6 othe
r spacious meeting rooms and a business centre. These rooms are all fitted with the latest state-of-the-art audio-visual and lighting equipment, ideal for functions, conferences and exhibitions
“If there was a city that still embraces its Asian way of life, yet at the same time offers the dynamism of a richly textured metropolis with something for everybody, it’s got to be Hanoi,” said a delighted Jerome Auvity, General Manager of Hilton Hanoi Opera.
“It is indeed great to know that, with winning this prestigious award, we have once again put Hanoi in the international spotlight.”
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